Meet these brave Israeli pioneers who are settling the Land of Israel!
CFOIC Heartland is proud to introduce you to some of the brave pioneers who make their home in the communities of Judea, and Samaria. We trust you will find these very special people and their unique stories inspiring.
Menachem Zur: Pioneering Through Perseverance
A modern-day pioneer, Menachem Zur grew up in Beit El, located right near the site where Jacob saw a ladder reaching the Heavens with angels ascending and descending its rungs. The vision was an apparent
Shoshana Bloch: From the Valley to the Judean Mountains
Growing up in Los Angele’s San Fernando Valley would broadly categorize Shoshana as a Valley Girl. But that term, a cultural stereotype of youth focused on affluence, materialism, fashion, and beauty, stands in stark contrast
Mina Brody: Ambassador for Samaria
Mina Brody grew up in a secular home in the sleepy agricultural community of Migdal, known as the birthplace of Mary Magdalene. Migdal was a small pioneering village then. Mina spent her childhood surrounded by
Sandy Bloom, Bet Yatir
Sandy Bloom, raised in the US with a love for Israel, spent the year after high school on a kibbutz. She studied Bible, worked in the fields, and grew to love the people of Israel.
Yochanan Eliyahu: Giving back to Israel
Acts of kindness do not exist in a vacuum – they transform the world. Believing in a child, helping him become a better version of himself, can set in motion a chain reaction of success, gratitude
Rachel Noach: Finding Her Purpose
Rachel Noach grew up in Bet Hagai, a small community in Judea. In her childhood home, prayer, observance of Biblical values, and Zionism took center stage. Her childhood was magical and innocent, with summers spent
Shmuel Junger: Rooted in Samaria
Shmuel Junger didn’t know it at first, but looking back, it’s clear that living in Samaria was always God’s plan for him. Today Shmuel lives with his wife and four children in Zufim, a community
Shu Rimel: The Power of Community
All of us have experienced tragedy and loss. Whether it be the passing of a grandparent, a parent, a sibling or close friend, or, God forbid, a child, loss catches up with all of us
Rabbi Benjy Myers: Building Community
It’s hard to move houses or towns. Even harder to move countries. But Rabbi Benjy Myers doesn’t see it that way, when reflecting on all the places he’s lived and all the countries he’s
Chaim Livne: Leading by Example
Chaim met Naava as a teenager through the religious Zionist youth organization Bnei Akiva. Their early lives paralleled each other: both were raised in New York and both were very active in their respective Bnei
Mina Guveri – A Heart So Big
When Mina was eight years old she moved with her family from Petach Tikva to Kiryat Arba. She was the first daughter of Moshe and Chaviva Tzachor, and although she had two older brothers, Mina
Ahrale Lederberg – Superman in Zufim
When Ahrale was a child he had the same dreams that any other child has: He wanted to be a superhero with super powers. He would tie a blanket around his shoulders for a
Oren Gilad – My Brother, The Hero
Anyone who has ever visited “Ach Sheli Gibor” knows that it is a special place. Hebrew for “my brother, the hero”, Ach Sheli Gibor is a sandwich shop-minimartrest stop all rolled into one. Located at
Aviva Yisraeli -The Spirit and Soul of the People of the Land
Though Aviva was only nine years old when her family made Aliyah from Canada, she remembers clearly, feeling wonderfully excited. She was young enough not to be nervous about making the move and was ready
Mali and Yaakov Sztrigler – It’s a Family Affair!
It is an unlikely love story. Mali is a “Sabra”, a native born Israeli and Yaakov is from Mexico. When Yaakov was 11 years old, the family moved to Jerusalem. Yaakov and Mali had both
Daniel Ehrlich – CFOIC Heartland’s Newest Tour Guide
Daniel Ehrlich has been a leader in Jewish and Zionist education for over thirty years. Today, he guides tour groups all over Israel. Just one day touring with him, and you immediately sense the passion
Yisrael Medad – His Right Word
Political advisor, spokesperson, activist, author, journalist and blogger are just a few of the many hats Yisrael Medad has worn during his impressive fortyfive year career working for the people of Israel in the Land
Dror Vanunu – Looking Back and Looking Forward
It was a hot summer day in August of 2005. Close to 10,000 Jews had been forcibly evacuated from their homes in Gush Katif just a few days earlier and Sondra Oster Baras, Israeli director
Shulamit Kaminsky – Not Your Average Valley Girl!
If you’ve ever visited the Jordan Valley, chances are you’ve met Shulamit Kaminsky, CFOIC Heartland’s liaison for the Jordan Valley. Just one year after marrying Arnie in New York, Shulamit made Aliyah to Israel in
Anat Safrir – A Model of Giving
Energetic, amazingly warm and spirited are words that best describe Anat Safrir, a one-of-a kind charity powerhouse in Samaria. These attributes, coupled with her ideology, and “can-do” attitude make her a natural leader. Born and
Vered Ben-Saadon – Planting Vineyards on the Mountains of Samaria
During the Second Intifada—the Palestinian uprising between 2000 and 2004, when even the most dedicated pioneers were tempted to leave Samaria to seek safer pastures, the Ben-Saadons were defiantly establishing roots in the area. In
Amatzia Haeitan – The Heart and Mind Behind the Lens
When amatzia was seven, his parents decided to follow a dream. The family of 9 left their home in Jerusalem and joined thirty families on the barren hilltops of Karnei Shomron in Samaria. When they
Moshe Kempinski – It’s Time To Talk
Growing up, Moshe recalls hearing the shoemaker’s story. People would come to the shoemaker with shoes that needed repair. And this wise man would talk and listen as he worked, unerringly uncovering and discovering a
Mickey Bar-Neder
Your Guide to Biblical Israel Mickey Bar-Neder’s profession as a tour guide allows him the privilege of traveling the breadth of his glorious land, educating people with hands-on-lessons about Israel’s history, geography and archeology. This
Natan Greenberg – Soul Searching
Natan Greenberg, known back then as Johnny, grew up in the U.S. He visited Israel for the first time at the age of 12 and he was hooked. His second visit was a few years
Noah Mandelbaum
Noah’s Magic Touch Twelve years ago Noah Mandelbaum was a kindergarten teacher for four and five year olds in Carmei Zur, a community in the Etzion Bloc. A chance encounter with a Jerusalem family introduced
David Goldman – His House of History
Born in Detroit, Michigan, David Goldman made aliyah (immigrated to Israel) with his family in 1975, when he was thirteen years old. After high school he enrolled in a Hesder Yeshiva program, combining mandatory army
Laurence Beziz – The True Voice of Gush Katif
The voice of Gush Katif can be heard from the scattered exile of hotel rooms, dormitories, tent cities and high-rise apartment buildings all over Israel. Not a voice of divisive political mudslinging or baseless
Raphaella Segal – A Real Pioneer
Do you think it’s possible to find a real pioneer today? The kind that legends are made of? In the legendary community of Kedumim, founded in 1975 as the first Jewish community in Samaria for
Chaya and Shimon Ben-Dor
Determination in a Desert Outpost It takes special people to settle the Judean Desert. And there is little in Chaya and Shimon Ben-Dor’s cosmopolitan upbringing that would foretell the ability to successfully adapt to the
Rabbi David Feld – Brave Pioneer
Nahala is proud to introduce some of the brave pioneers who make their home in the communities of Judea, Samaria & Gaza, and trust you will find these very special people an inspiration. American-born